Reviewing own system...

After years in listening to music through high fidelity system (if I may call my system a hi-fi), there was lots of changes in my setup through my entire journey. Amplifier, speakers, cdp,TT and not to forgets..the cables!. Previously my system was reviewed by Panzer aka Big E in one of the blogging site (please find the review by clicking at hifi review section) and at the point of time my VTL MB250 monoblocks was the star of the system. Having valves system was great but I need something simpler but still deliver what I want, and that makes me hunting for McCormack series of amplifier (DNA225). Why McCormack amplifier?, ok, previously I've had used DNA 0.5 and DNA 1 Deluxe and the performance of these amps are well above their price tags and with my previous setup, no complaints. From Harman Kardon HK6100 - Marantz PM80 - John Shearne phase 2 Ref - DNA 0.5 - DNA 1 - Krell KSA 80B - down graded to Primare I30 - Naim 120x/150x - Naim 202/200 - VTL & McCormack DNA 225 and DNA stays. Steve, the designer are humble too in answering every questions you asked.

In sound reproduction in my opinion, the speakers are the most easily- to- detect change of sounds or presentation after the source. One have to remember garbage in garbage out is the key/rules in every setup. From JBL LX-22 - Mordaunt Short MS35Ti - B&W 602 S2- Mission 752 - Snell type J mk4 (this is lovely) - Dynaudio Audience 50 - Von Schweikert VR1 Ref ( the best monitor so far, big sound) - Usher BE718 - ZU Druids MK4 (08 mod kit). Yes ZU Druids mk4 which has high sensitivity to drive 225wpc McCormack. I've emailed Steve asking his opinion on this pair, he told me that many of his customers are using ZU but with 100 steps volume port for channel accuracy. Since I'm having my DIY passive buffer pre with 2pcs 6922, Elma steps pot, Nichicon gold tunes & Mundorf Silver/Oil Caps and all MIT wires, I decided to give it a try.

At this point, this is my best setup so far. Every detail of recording is heard through. The venue, style of recording, every nuance, clicks, licks of strings is made heard by ZU. Separations of each instruments are great and the depth is believable. I love this speakers very much and I guess this the advantage of having full range speakers...it just different!. Since I'm into music for a very long time, jamming, performing, guitars, drums (well, it stopped for quite sometime...hmm actually long enough)..this systems has musical accuracy which will leads you into air guitar and drumming..even becoming a conductor for an orchestra.

Close your eyes and the speakers are gone, only you and the music...errkk. I don't need to do that, it disappear even eyes wide open!. Double bass is the hardest instrument for sound reproduction, often the lowest frequency booming which translate into unmusical sound. The lowest note of a double bass is an E1 (on standard four-string basses) at approximately 41 Hz , on 5 strings bass the note Bo can go as low as 31hz and this setup deliver without bloating out its sound. Contrabass player, Garcia-Fons: Ghazali was performed on this. On Marla Glen - The cost of freedom, the rumble of definitely not from 4 strings basses (could be 5 or 6 strings played by Pat Senatore) is very well presented, resonates even at lowest frequency of the song. This is bass!

The piano is one of the most complex instrument for its tonality for sound reproduction. It's not only key sound but has string vibration, hammer, body/scale of the piano, pitch/harmonic accuracy and paddles ups/downs. Chie Ayado the best live album has given me the new dimension in piano tonality through this session. Comparable to my Yamaha downstairs...so alive!.

The differences that you can spot not only on different album or artiste, but on every track in single disc. Well, it's depends on how the recording was made..it just shows. The LAT International SS-1000 mkII speaker cables which received great review by users are the linking pair from DNA. This cable does make the different..it does seriously. From my preamp to DNA, The Stout silver interconnect does the job.

This system not reaching to the optimum level yet as I'm only using an old humble marantz cd63 (mod) and this CD63 smoked T.S Lim's marantz moded player anytime! and I was thinking if I were not to sell my Esoteric P30/Victor Lab K2 Dac, this system would shine through even better!. Why did I sold my Esoteric/K2?...down sizing as I'm looking for simple cd playback and focus on my TT, the Clearaudio Champion. But until to date I haven't set it up properly due space constraints.

Ok guys, I'm not saying mine is the absolute in hi-fidelity, don't compare to mega system that costs a bomb. This is not my best system if to compare from my previous but for a modest and as my reference from my previous setup, this is my best sound...so far.

Music on this review: Ryan Adams - Love is Hell. On last track you can really feel like the band performing in an empty pub at closing time and you're sitting at the bar stool enjoying the atmosphere. I thought it's real enough before this....this superseded my experience.

Dire Straits, Yuri Honing Trio, Eva Cassidy, Chie Ayado, Marla Glen, Arya Setyadi - the bass player etc.

p/s: I wanted to add a subwoofer from ZU if possible after read about it. Click here to read

Band of Horses...

The 3rd album from these gentlemen are so addictive. Check out "Laredo" from their "Infinite Arms" album. Formed in 2004 from Seattle fronted by Ben Bridwell also performed in many opening concerts..like Pearl Jam, Snow Patrol..etc..

This Alt-Country band loaded with melodic, fine tuned harmonies...

A Denial Obscurantism Collision In The Outerspace

A 75 years old Poet, A National Icon, A Veteran & A Visionary Musicians a-la Gunslingers(due to their profesionally boldness-not guns) finally collides..resulting another 2 latest, musically vogue tracks, that should not be missed by most of human that already open up their eyes..& ears, who then..finally come to believed, the emerging soundscapes of Space Gambus Experiment led by Kamal Sabran(Electro-Acoustic), alongside his most loyal collaborator Zulkifli Ramli(Oud@Gambus), together with the full support, from their creative comrades.

'Suara Dari Dinding Dewan' is 1 of 2 current songs from SGE. It's an opulent results from a collaboration between Dato' A Samad Said@Pak Samad & SGE. It reminds me of the song from The Doors- 'The End' due to it's lenght that took more than 10 minutes plus. Without exageration..bold I may say..The track was delivered by Dato' A Samad Said..as if, he'd blown a soul into the track..resulting what I believed to be The Voiced Of 'Sakti!'. The chimes, although minimal, yet delicate ambient sounds alongside he's angelic reading blends perfectly, the improvision clicks so well..that ones can sense a sudden change of feeling after listening to the words...bits by bits. It's a howl of SAKTI colliding in the outerspace, a stand-out, project by Kamal Sabran with SGE & Pak Samad. It's an abstract vague collaboration that led to a sweat success that should not be ignored if you're one of the 'Space Family' like me. I defined it, as a 'caviar', a bold fusion of State Of Art Sounds & Poetry. 'Suara Dari Dinding Dewan' was a brilliant picked, since it's filled with posh words of abstractionism & heart penetrating rhymes. It made me believed- this words was written full hearted..in order to penetrates ones emotions...& you may feels it's effects instantly.

'Di Bawah Bintang Mengerdip'- is a slight punchier, dreamy like track musically & vocally(Poem readings). The reading was slightly fast..vividly proclaimed a definate answer from a methaporic question- As if it's from Adam & Hawa. Urging listeners to think along side the enchanted poetry written by Pak Samad.

I've come to my conclusion!

SGE- has leaps trumendously from the hidden corner somewhere, from this vast world called Earth. SGE are loading their guns(direction & goals)- maturing progresively..gaining a cult fame..& doing what they believed to be the work of ART- through their cosmic language. I'll give them a both thumbs-ups!-I'll give them an immensed apploused for the efforts..that they have poured to make this dream of cosmic journey to finally...come true!

*The 2 Tracks- Downloads are now available on 'kamalsabran.blogspot.com'

"A DENIAL OBSCURANTISM COLLISION IN THE OUTERSPACE"- the titled-strictly for 'gimmick' purposes;)

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Scratch My Back by Peter Gabriel

Let's us be honest to each other, let me whisper clearly in your ears with this simple words of mine..I'm a stranger to Peter Gabriel. I've never bought any of his album, & that's make this one here, is my very first ever!

I did stumble upon his work collarborating with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on Scorsese-'Temptation Of Christ' the OST, 'Rabbit Proof Fence' OST, a song feature of him in Cameron Crowe's version of 'Vanilla Sky' & his latest OST composition for 'Wall-E'. Yet, none of the above, had tempt me..to buy one of his album..until this one landed in our shore. It's his brand new album, offering varies of cover songs that specially hand picked by Gabriel himself. - Like what 'Johnny Cash' onced qoute- 'A great song will remained A 'Great Song' no matter how you present it!'

Scratch My Back-

It's a DRUM free album. It's an orchestrial composition, with a blend mix of soothing baroque-pop sounds, that will instantly capture your ears..& best to be played late at nite. It's a cover album..yes!- But it's also a twist of posh covers. Peter Gabriel proves- he's the master of Electro/Soundtracks like- Dreamer Savant..that at the top of his games. Peter Gabriel- now visible pose similar look a-like, same as 'Travolta' latest potrayal in 'From Paris With Love', has embark a new journey of pure elegant & in form of classy rejuvanation. The MAN is back!

With selection..including an impressively stunning cover version of David Bowie, Bon Iver, Arcade Of Fire, Radiohead, Regina Spektor & so fourth..this album is a must have! It's a tribute & an experimental vibes offered by this extraodiniary genius here. The strenght of the album also lies in the overall product of this album. Don't talk about the sound alone- it's Awesome! Even the album cover is minimal & poppingly eye catching! A pic of a Blood Cell!

My verdict- As a beginner..a new follower, a quite late so called discovery..I sincerely- Hailed SCRATCH MY BACK BY PETER GABRIEL- as one of my important discovery this year after Bon Iver! On my scales- it's a defenite 9/10! I can't give it a 10/10- since it remains as a drum free album..which I rarely buy without thinking twice. If it's an acoustic guitar album..then it's in an alternate catagories- whereby it will fall in my most often purchased kind of albums same as Cash, Dylan, Jose' Gonzalez, Cat Power, Damien Rice, Seu Jorge or Kathryn Williams..but as I've written earlier..'Scrath My Back by Peter Gabriel is an orchestrial drum free album..& it's very, very new for my listening preferences!

GREAT COMEBACK- an excelent introduction for a person like me- & I hope it does the same to you...lastly...

'Can you please scratch my back?'

Available At Rock Corner, Subang Parade!

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Midnight Boom By The Kills

It's always an absolute experience to listened to this Band of Duo- THE KILLS. As for me..it's my third album of this band that I've own. Both, the earlier album is in CD format, while my current buy is a Vinyl.

Midnight Boom is the band latest released & it offers a slight diversion of maturity by maintaining the Art Of Garage Sounds. The duo kinda.. leaping through from their minimal sounds to another form of something that can be recognized as an ear-friendly Sonic groove with a dash of Electro Beat to lighten up..their original electricfying raw sounds. Honestly, this album is worth a catch if you're a fan of White Stripes or anything that's represent the same atmospheric rhythm.. This album is recomended as definate pick.

U.R.A FEVER- is the opening track & the most out-standing track in this released. Not only that- it's the most chill-out track, that in a way make u feels like a cool 'Rockstar' while you're playing it on air! The guitar, & the chill bass line, along side the chic vocal seems to blend perfectly. It make me play it on repeat mode, due to it's cool awesome sonic grooves! It's a laid back neo-garage that sometimes will turn out quite mean..but hey..it's The Kills- it's their signature!

The vinyl cost me around USD$24-including Tax & delivery charges. You will get a password- excess to download the whole album in MP3 format. The sound quality is excellent..& the tracks selection is varies from the laid back tunes, to so called more punchier tracks.

The vinyl- Midnight Boom by The Kills on my scales, hits 9/10 easily..due to it's sacred signature of sounds. So..grab it from amazon.com with a great deal of price! CATCHY & BOOMING!

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